Chopper or agitator for shaking-grates



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J .REAGAN. CHOPPER 0R AGITATOR FOR SHAKING GRAT-ES.

Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

'F'I E21.

llVl/ENTOI? /W.Q

ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES:

2 ShetsSheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

J. REAGAN. OHDPP'BRIOQZAGITATOR FOR SHAKING GRATES.

Patented Feb. 1, 1898..

,Izz rad an NHED STATES PATENT Unmet.

JAMES REAGAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHOPPER OR AGlTATOR FOR SHAKING=GRATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,392, dated February 1, 1898. Application filed January 22,1897. Serial No. 620,268. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES REAGAN, a citi:

zen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Choppers or Agitators for Shaking-Grates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to shaking-grates for stationary, locomotive, or marine boilers, and more particularly to that form or construction of grate in which a series of movable choppers or shakers are interposed between longitudinal apertured fire-bars, whichremain loose in position and take the place of fixed water-bars.

The object of my present invention is to dispense with the fastening device consisting of split keys driven through openings in the depending lugs of the choppers to impinge the lower sides of the rocking shafts, as described and shown in prior patents granted to me December S, 1891, No. 464,649, and August 18, 1896, No. 566,093, and substitute therefor a simple, economical, and effectual device whereby the choppers can be readily placed in position with the expenditure of a small amount of labor and time, and in case any of them should become damaged while in the furnace it can readily, easily, and quicklybe removed and a new one substituted without dismantling the grate or interfering with the fireto any great extent. This will be found of especial advantage in grates for furnaces of marine boilers, where the space to work in is limited and time is of great importance.

My invention consists in constructing the choppers or fuel-supporters similar to those described in my former patent, No. 464,649, with the difference that instead of having a recess to fit the rocking shafts each chopper or leaf is provided with a transverse aperture through the center, and the shafts, which are square in cross-section, are set in the bearings across the side bars so that their sides incline at an angle of forty-five degrees, forming quadrangular prisms, with the transverse aperture made of a corresponding form to fit over orspan the sides. Thus, owing to the plain or fiat surfaces coming in contact, the choppers or leaves are prevented from rotating on the supporting-shafts,but are permitted to oscillate in unison therewith. The chopper thus constructed is slipped over a certain part of the rocking shaft and moved laterally into position, simply necessitating the removal of one or more fire-bars in applying or removing the same.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side View of a chopper or agitator embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the lineVV of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a grate with apertured fire-bars extending parallel and choppers embodying myinvention placed therebetween. Fig. 4is a transverse section of the grate, showing the means of applying and removing the choppers to and from the angular rocking shafts. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a shaking-grate for a marineboiler furnace,showing my invention applied.

The choppers A, Fig. 1, are provided with elongated lugs B B, depending from the bottom thereof, with an intervening open space 0, which communicates with an aperture D, made transversely through the center of the chopper to accommodate the angular rocking shaft E, upon which they are mounted.

The supporting-shafts E, set with inclined sides forming quadrangular prisms, require that the aperture D through each chopper be made of corresponding shape, the two upper sides 01 d of which form tapering seats for the shaft, and the two lower sides d d on each side of the opening Oform shoulders to impinge the lower sides of the shaft to pre-' vent displacement, so that when the chopper is passed over the projecting angles of the shaft it will rest upon the upper faces of the same, and owing to the sides (1 cl of the aperture being'inclined it will wedge itself in position, and the flat surfaces being in contact will prevent it rotating on the shaft. At the upper or converging point of the sides (1 d a small recess a is made to allow clearance for the sharp corner or salient angle of the shaft to avoid any possibility of the chopper riding on this point and to insure a perfect seating on the sides 01 01 The shafts or bars E, Figs. 3 and 4:, have end journals, which drop into the bearings in the side bars F F, and an intermediate short cylindrical portion or round spot G, over which are passed the depending lugs B B of the chopper.

The depending lugs B 13, Figs. 1 and 2, to which are attached the bars for shaking and dumping, are made of sufficient length to obtain the proper leverage to manipulate the grate. Across the lower ends of these lugs is bolted a pivot-supporting plate H, which is made with an offset h on one side to enter the open space 0 and a similar offset 72., Fig. 2, on the opposite side to keep the pull-bar K clear of the choppers and also to lend additional support to the pivot-pin J, which passes through the center. i

The shafts E, Fig. 3, Which are square in cross-section, are set, as stated, across the grate with the sides inclined at an angle of forty-five degrees and are maintained in this position by means of the pull or tie bar K, which is coupled across the lower ends of the depending lugs.

In case one or more of the choppers should become damaged from any cause while under fire it or they can be readily removed by uncovering the fire and lifting out one or more fire-bars, as the case may be, and sliding the chopper along until it is opposite the round spot G on the shaft, at which point it is lifted out and a new one inserted, moved to its proper position, and the fire-bars replaced. In removing the choppers at the right and left side of the grate the, pull-bars attached to the lugs will have to be disconnected.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

A hollow chopper or leaf having a central angular aperture, D, corresponding to the form of the supporting-shaft, so as to maintain a vertical position Without rotating on said shaft, and provided with elongated depending lugs, 13 B, With an intervening space, 0; incombination with the rocking shaft E, plate H, bolt J, and pull-bar K, for shaking and dumping the grate, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES REAGAN. Witnesses:

D. U. WORTHINGTON, M. Dns GEORGES. 

